District op



(No Model.)

0. SKATULLA. SPACE BAR FOR fiINE CASTING MACHINES.

Patented Jan. 30, 1894.

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UNITED STATES It PATENT FFICE.

CLLESTIN SKATULLA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE MONOLINE OOMPOSING COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SPACE-BAR FOR LINE-CASTING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,958, dated January 30, 1894.

Application filed October 7. 1893. Serial No. 487,433. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OdLLnsTIN SKATULLA, asubject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, but having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing at v Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of an interposed expander section having stepped or expanding portions, as in Letters Patent No. 494,899, issued April 4, 1893, to W. S. Scudder.

The object of the present invention is torender the spacer or space bar reversible and susceptible of a wider range of adjustment or expansibility than the prior spacer or spacebar, wherein the laterally expansible members are united at opposite end portions.

The invention also has for its object to render the spacer or space-bar available in the ordinary line casting machines, and capable of being circulated or handled mechanically by the same mechanism as matrices having lugs or supports at one or both ends adapted to move on parallel supporting parts of the line casting machine.

To accomplish these objects my invention consists in the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View, on an enlarged scale, of a spacer or space-bar embodying my invention, the parts being in normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the expander section adjusted to expand the laterally yielding members. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the expansible section of the spacer or space-bar. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the expander section, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the spacer or space-bar.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I Will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- The numerals l and 2 indicate the two laterally expansible members which are provided with shank-like extensions 3 and 4, riveted or otherwise secured together at their lower extremities by means of an interposed filling piece or plate 5. The upper or outer end of each laterally expansible member is provided with an angular recess 6 and with a pair of upwardly projecting arms 7, each having projecting lugs 8. The laterally expansible members 1 and 2 are similar in form, shape, or configuration, and when they are placed together in the manner stated the lugs 8 are adapted to move on opposite parts of the usual guide-rails or supports of a line casting machine, in which respect my invention differs substantially from the spacer or space-bar described and shown in the patent hereinbefore alluded to. The laterally expansible members are each provided with longitudinal slots or incisions 10, for the purpose of providing longitudinal elastic tongue pieces 12 which are susceptible of lateral expansion independent of the united shank portions 3 and 4, the construction being such that the tongue pieces can be freely ex panded in substantially parallel planes independent of the shank portions 3 and 4, even when the thickest part of the stepped expander section, hereinafter explained, is forced between the laterally expansible members. The provision of the slots or incisions 10 to form the tongue pieces 12 materially facilitates and renders more easy the expansibility of the spacer at the parts thereof which lie in operative relation to the characters of the matrices, and obtain a perfect closure of the mold between the adjacent matrices. The elastic tongue pieces 12, as here illustrated, are of less length than the shank portions 3 and 4 of the expansible members 1 and 2, but they are of sufficient length to render them susceptible of lateral expansion in congruity of action with the body portions of the elastic members. The section by which the expansible members 1 and 2 are expanded in approximately parallel planes is composed of parallel side bars 13 separated entirely throughout their length, except at the end portions 14 and 15, by which the side bars are united and rigidly connected together, the construction being such that the entire length of each side bar can be caused to move longitudinally between the laterally expansible members 1 and 2 and their elastic tongue pieces 12. The side bars are each provided with a series of stepped expanding portions 16, which gradually increase in thickness from the upper to the lower end portion of the side bars, so that the opposite surfaces of each step or expanding portion are approximately, but not quite parallel with each other, the purpose being to expand the elastic members and their tongue pieces in substantially parallel planes to secure a perfect closure of the mold between adjacent matrices during the casting of a line of type.

The peculiar construction of the expansible members with their elastic tongue pieces renders the spacer or space-bar susceptible of being reversed so that either edge thereof can be presented to the mold in the process of casting, which is a very desirable feature in a spacer or space-bar adapted to be laterally expanded through the medium of an expander section adjustable or movable lengthgise between the laterally expansible memers.

The expander section is moved lengthwise to expand the spacer or space-bar by any mechanism suitable for the purpose; but as this constitutes no essential part of the invention I do not deem it necessary to illustrate and describe the same. The expander section enables the expansible section to be positively expanded and varied, as regards its thickness, to meet all the conditions required for forming word spaces after the line is set up or for forming word spaces partly during the assemblage of the matrices.

The improved spacer or space-bar is not only reversible, but it is susceptible of a very wide range of adjustment or expansibility, because the upper or outer end portions of the laterally expansible members are entirely disconnected and are free to move to and from each other; and, furthermore, the lugs 8 enable the space-bars to be circulated or handled mechanically by the mechanism employed to circulate or handle those matrices which are provided with lugs at one or both ends, adapted to move on parallel supporting parts of a line casting machine.

In the practical use of the spacers or spacebars, they may be set in the contracted position, Fig. 1, and then expanded wholly or partly as the end of a line is reached to suit the conditions required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A spacer, consisting of laterally expansible members united at one end portion and having slots or incisions to form longitudinal elastic tongue pieces, and an expander section for expanding said expansible members and their elastic tongue pieces, substantially as described.

2. A spacer, consisting of laterally expansible members united at one end portion, disconnected at their opposite end portion and provided with slots or incisions to form longitudinal elastic tongue pieces, and an adjustable expander section for expanding the expansible members and their elastic tongue pieces, substantially as described.

3. A spacer, consisting of laterally expansible members united at one end portion, disconnected at their opposite end portion and provided with slots or incisions to form longitudinal elastic tongue pieces, and an expander section having stepped expanding portions for expanding the expansible members and their tongue pieces, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ooLLEsTm SKATULLA. [1,. s.]

Witn esses:

CLEMENS HUNEWINCKELL, PHILIP STURM. 

